Offered for sale is a bucolic French oil on board depicting a hilly pasture dotted with a herd of sheep set against a blue moderately cloudy sky. The paining is by French artist, Francois Auguste Bonheur, (1824-1884). The softened background of the sky shading into the earthy colors of the rocky slope provide an ideal palette upon which to place the bold figures of the sheep.

Auguste Bonheur was born in Bordeaux, France, in 1824 into a family of painters. His sister, Rosa Bonheur, was one of the most celebrated animal painters of the 19th century. Her painting, The Horse Fair, is arguably the most recognizable of the animal genre paintings of all time. Auguste Bonheur's idealistic interpretation, of animals, have a soft dream-like quality which adds a warmth to his scenes. Critics have long thought, that in comparison to his better-known sister, he has never been awarded his due recognition.

The painting is in very good condition with some age related crazing to the canvas.

Size of Frame: 30" Width x 26" Height

Size of Image: 23 ½" Width x 19" Height.